Hi, Danny-

>The problem with the mapped drive scenario (based on the experience I've had) was that the data located on a remote server was not seen as a resource that the ASPNet user had rights to.

Right. Now that you remind me, since the file and webserver were the same box, I just switched to using the physical drive and didn't worry about it any more.

>Below is a link that outlines the ASPNet user permissions (for whatever reason the article starts about mid-way down the page)
>http://www.dnzone.com/ShowDetail.asp?NewsId=562

Cool. There are about a billion resources, and that's just WRT security, so I'll look into this one when I get back to the office. I don't have the link with me, but I also uncovered yet another document specifically dedicated to hosting asp.net websites. I'm going through that, too. I find I have to keep reading and re-reading material. If an MS person uses the word "easy" one more time in a presentation, I think they should get a cream pie in the face. <g>

>Not for sure how (or even if possible), but if you could give the ASPNet user (on the web server) rights to the remote drive containig the data, a UNC or mapped drive would work.
>
>(My own opinion) It almost seems like MS really tried to push people to use SQL server as the data back end.

"Almost?" *vbg*

> The ASPNet is a very good idea for the sake of security. However, it sure hurts when trying to access data in a file on a remote machine.

Well, it's a complication.

>If memory serves correctly, the only way I was able to get around the problem was by using OBDC.net (a sub-set of ADO.net) ... However, you may take more of a perfomence hit by using ODBC.net than leaving the data on the same server as the web site.
>
>Below is a link to the ODBC.net stuff on the MS site (simply as an option)
>http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6CCD8427-1017-4F33-A062-D165078E32B1&displaylang=en

Okay, will read about though I'd be surprised and disappointed to find I would have to resort to odbc.

Thanks very much. It's always helpful to brainstorm with peers.